ST. FRANCIS, Wis. (AP)  The Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Terry Porter on Wednesday, two months after finishing their worst season in almost a decade.

The Bucks have the first pick in next week's NBA draft, and general manager Larry Harris said the team needs to take a new direction.

"Certainly for the direction of this franchise heading forward, we certainly need to make a move," Harris said.

Plagued with injuries and a revolving roster, the Bucks went 30-52 last season and failed to make the playoffs in Porter's second year with the team.

The decision came more than a month after the team announced Porter would return for his third season. The Bucks said they would honor the terms of the last year of his contract.

Harris said the team will focus on next week's draft while starting immediately to look for a new coach. He also said he decided Tuesday night after weeks of contemplation to fire Porter, and the decision had nothing to do with the draft.

"We didn't have philosophical differences. He didn't want different guys than I did," Harris said.

Instead, Harris said having a coach in the last year of his contract made it difficult to assemble a coaching staff. The team has two assistant spots open.

He said Porter was shocked when he learned of the decision Wednesday afternoon.

"Terry Porter will get another coaching job, there's no doubt about it," Harris said.